FERRIGNO, DENTON NAMED TO ALL-NESCAC MEN'S SOCCER TEAM
 

LEWISTON, Maine -- Senior fullback Matt Ferrigno of Southwick, Mass., and first-year midfielder Lakota Denton of Bernardston, Mass., have been named to the 1997 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) All Conference men's soccer team.

Ferrigno, the only Bates player named to the All-Conference first team, has been a co-captain for the the past two seasons. A forward for each of his first three seasons at Bates, Ferrigno moved to fullback in 1997. "Matt was such a force in the backfield this season," Bates head coach George Purgavie said. "His awareness on the field and hard work have really paid off."

Denton was the Bobcats' leading scorer with 10 goals and four assists for 24 points, ranking him fourth in the NESCAC. His 10 goals, a Bates rookie record, were the most by any Bates player since 1994. Denton was the only rookie named to the NESCAC team. "Lakota is a very talented player," Purgavie said. "Hopefully, this is just a sign of good things to come."

Bates finished its season with a 7-6-1 record. Included among their wins was a 3-1 victory over Tufts, the Bobcats' over the Jumbos first since 1986, and a 3-2 overtime victory over NCAA Division III tournament qualifier Plymouth State.

Ferrigno is a 1994 graduate of Southwick-Tolland High School. Denton is a 1997 graduate of Pioneer Valley Regional High School.